We’re Speaking Out on Health Issues

NCHR scientists and health policy experts provide written and oral statements on a wide range of topics.

Here are many of the ways we have been Speaking Out on Health Policy Issues for the last few years. Whether the topic is legislation intended to cure diseases, proposed bans on BPA or other chemicals that disrupt your hormones, the importance of including women, people of color, and patients over 65 in clinical trials, or many other topics, you’ll gain a better understanding of our evidence-based analyses by reading these letters, statements, and testimony.

Here are the ways we have been Speaking out on Medical Treatments and Products, such as prescription drugs and medical devices that the FDA is considering approving, or is considering taking off the market because of serious risks. Whether the topic is Chantix, Addyi, Yaz, Essure, or medical products you’ve never heard of, you can find out more about what is known and not known about the safety and effectiveness of a wide range of products by looking through this section of our website.

Statement on Behalf of Members of the Patient, Consumer, and Public Health Coalition at the FDA Advisory Committee on Vaginal Mesh

February 12, 2019. NCHR testified at the FDA regarding vaginal mesh and its harm on patients. Mesh went through a lax approval process and was not proven to be safe before use.

NCHR Testimony at FDA on Esketamine for Treatment Resistant Depression

February 12, 2019. The data from the clinical trials for esketamine nasal spray are encouraging, but there are still important questions concerning its safety and efficacy.

Cancer Prevention and Treatment Funds’ Comments On USPSTF Draft Recommendation Statement for Breast Cancer: Medication Use to Reduce Risk

February 11, 2019. CPTF comments on the USPSTF breast cancer medications such as tamoxifen and raloxifene that are used to reduce risk in patients.

The USPSTF Draft Recommendations on Medication Use to Prevent Breast Cancer: Comments by Women’s Health Experts

February 11, 2019. NCHR writes on behalf of five nonprofit health organizations that have examined issues pertaining to primary prevention of breast cancer for decades and urge the USPSTF to consider revising their current recommendations on breast cancer risk reducing drugs.

NCHR comments on FDA’s Framework for Real-World Evidence Program

February 5, 2019. FDA needs to maintain high standards for evidence of effectiveness and safety whether the source of the data is from traditional clinical trials or RWE. Double-blind, randomized clinical trials remain the gold standard, and along with other types of well-controlled trials (including those that generate RWE), provide information that observational studies cannot. RWE should supplement rather than replace traditional, randomized and blinded controlled clinical trials except in situations where such traditional clinical trials are not possible.